CHAPTER 3
Khushi did wake up in the morning feeling fresh, but with mixed emotions. She was relieved that she was out of that monsters house, she had her best friend on her side, but thinking of Arnav meant unknown pain. Why did it affect her if Arnav had someone else in his life? It was good, wasn't it? she asked herself.
"No," her mind was screaming loudly to her. But she just ignored it. It was hard but she tried. As she looked at the clock it was 6:00 am in the morning. She wondered if Arnav was up this early or he just left once she was sleeping.
She dragged her soar body to sat up on the bed. Till now her pain didn't matter to her, as she just chose to ignore it.
"Good morning, Khushi!" Arnav said as he came in her room. Khushi straightened her head and opened her eyes. She got scared, even though Arnav made sure he didn't enter all of sudden in her room or scare her with his loud tone so he chose his words carefully and spoke gently.
"Good morning, Arnav!" she wished.
"Did I scare you?" he asked.
"No, you didn't!" she said. It wasn't him who scared her, but her fear of that monster.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"F-ine, I guess!" she said with the shrug of her shoulder.
"Hmm...What's the matter?" he asked.
What does she tell him? Tell him that she didn't like the fact that there was another girl in his life. Then she looked at a different angle. May be it was because he was her best friend and never she thought she would be sharing him with anyone else. Alas! No matter what she was telling herself in no way she was was going to feel satisfy but with one reason, that she was fond of him. Should she tell him? Should she tell him that since childhood she always thought of him being with her. But then she changed her mind. May be I don't mean anything to him. He would really at me, she thought. And he did has said that he was looking for her because he considered her best friend.
"Khushi, are you thinking of me?" Arnav asked. Khushi looked at him in shock. "Huh, no, I wasn't!" she said in her defence. "I mean I wasn't thinking anything!"
"I expected that!" he said. "Because I know since childhood you do not have any brain to think, or if you somehow do, it is too little!" Arnav joked to change her mood. But Khushi wasn't in a mood to joke. She broke into tears. Arnav thought it was because of his statement.
"Khushi!" he said in an alarm and sat close to her. "Khushi? What's wrong? I am sorry! I was just kidding!"
Khushi refused to listen him as she cried, her face in her hands. "Alright, girl, I am so sorry...Khushi, please don't cry!"
"I am not crying because what you said!" she replied as she still cried.
"Then what's the matter?!"
"Tell him...and make fun of yourself!" she taunted herself.
"I am sorry!" she said.
"No, Khushi, there is something wrong. Tell me!"
"Just remembered something!" she said.
"Khushi, you could really tell anything to me just like as you used to do during in our childhood. I am still your best friend, right?"
Khushi felt extremely stupid as she wiped her tears. She nodded.
"Are you sure my words didn't hurt you?"
"I am sure, Arnav. You cannot ever hurt me!" she said.
To this statement of her he really wanted to ask her, "Khushi, when I had left without telling you and you didn't get any letter from me that I did send you, were you mad at me?"
"I wasn't mad, I was worried about you!" she answered immediately honestly and without any doubt. As she sniffed her sobs.
"Worried?"
"Yes, I was worried, I thought something was wrong with you. After ma and dad died I thought..." She didn't want to say anything negative so she continued, skipped few words. "And yesterday too I wasn't expecting you, that was the reason I couldn't recognize you."
Arnav was looking at her in awe. "Khushi, it's okay. Please stay worried free, you will be fine!"
Khushi nodded but she wasn't.
"Alright, get ready. How is your feet, by the way?...Oh god, they are swollen," Arnav said as he lightly touched them. Even Khushi hadn't realized. "But they don't hurt!" she said.
"Khushi, you won't be able to walk! Let me call Aman, he will call the doctor. I had told this man to give you the best medicine!"
Khushi stopped him before he was going to get up the bed. She then immediately moved her hand away as Arnav eyed it. But he seemed to be casual about it.
"What is it, Khushi?"
"I will be okay, Arnav. Medicine won't work just in few hours."
"Then I move the dates of the gathering!"
"Arnav, I will be okay. You are worrying about little things!"
"Khushi, look at your feet, is this what you call normal? Where is the cream that doctor gave you to apply on it?"
Khushi liked the way he was taking care of her. She could tell she was so worried about him.
"It's in the drawer, Maria kept it!" she told him as she took some out of her thinking how much she liked him and his every sweet gesture.
"Okay!"
Arnav took the antiseptic cream out of the drawer and went ahead to apply it under Khushi's feet.
Khushi felt her heart do a flip. "Arnav, you don't have to do this!" she said as she made an attempt to move her legs away. But he held then in place without any problem.
"I wonder why are you so formal, Khushi?! It indeed has been long time isn't?! You feel stranger, don't you?" he said but continued what he knew he should be doing.
"It was surely a long time seeing you, Arnav, but nothing has changed except for the fact that we have moved in so much in time. This eight years of separation, toppled by the daunted situations, has made us ahead of our times, at the same time lag behind, still I feel nothing has changed in between us, but I dread...Dread that I don't want to loose you!" she said in a very low tone. He wasn't sure if she meant to tell him the last sentence that was unheard by him.
She gasped, "I am so sorry!" his words flew to her as she still was absorbing the waves of pain fresh one after the other.
"I should go slow!" he said apologetically.
"Not your fault!" she said as it wasn't her feet but her back.
"Khushi, I hope you get well as soon as possible. I want my friend to be perfectly healthy."
Wounds of long eight years weren't going to fade away in a day or two. The mental distress that she went through wasn't going to be eliminated like it wasn't ever there. She didn't know what she did to gain such a treatment from a person whom she didn't even see; or know, even being close to him. His eyes changed colour all of sudden, his anger that she had experienced was...she shivered at the thought...He was a real monster...Oh she hated him, her body stiffened as she felt an urge to kill him. He was gross, and more gross were his actions.
Burnt marks on her body always denied to not feel the pain. His whips on her weak body never denied to stung. If one pain was ever able to start to lessen in intensity he would gave her another and then another and another. And then he would laugh.
She had to bear it because she wasn't strong enough to fight back, she felt worst that being a woman she couldn't show him how strong she was, and that was the mistake that she was doing, and someone needed to tell her this that she was stronger than she realized, despite of the pain she was given, she kept herself alive so that one day she will be able to see the same person in her knees, yelling, crying with the same worst pain she went through.
She didn't have anyone to tell her pain, she had to store it in her heart. She had lost everything, but Arnav was the shimmer of light in her life, he had always been a kiss of life to her dying soul. And she was kissed by it lot many times.
Arnav was afraid how she fell silent all of sudden. She was scared to death, might be an understatement. Arnav finished applying cream to Khushi's injured and swollen feet with extreme care. Just by seeing her physical pain, he could estimate to what extent she was bearing the mental and emotional pain.
To see his lady like this was was a torture. Her awful condition only fuelled his anger even more.
Hour went by as they were having monotonous conversation with themselves in their heads. It was important especially for Arnav before he could actually help her.
He was trying, every attempt he was taking was solely for her well being.
The fact was, it hurt less if you are yourself in pain, but worst when the person you love is in pain.
He hadn't said a word to her neither he tried to disturb her, but he was afraid he was thinking about her past eight years. He didn't know how she was kept, but her condition was well an indication and told him many things. But he didn't want to limit her pain by his thinking. Because she had gone through the worst.
Well wait and watch what he was going to with this monster.
"Khushi!" he said. He wanted to hold her in his arms just like yesterday and tell her everything was going to be okay. And he wanted to do it until he couldn't able to convince her and prove to her best friend that she was safe now.
"I just want to lay back down and sleep!" she said in a sad, and defeated low tone.
Arnav hold his glare at her. "I will love to let you sleep, but you need to be healthy, slowly and steady, so, what am I going to do is make sure you have your food on time and enough fresh air you are getting!" he told her, his voice was cheerful, but Khushi noticed he never actually smiled.
Even in childhood he was choosy to whom to give and when to give a smile. But he did use to smile. Mat be he hadn't much to smile for, just like her, she thought.
And yes, Arnav was right, she needed a fresh air, she was locked for many years, never she saw the trace of a light, only when that monster came inside the dirty room, with big spider webs not only at the corner of the walls, but hanging in the room everywhere. Spiders freely moving. She felt she was living with spiders. Then no fan in the summers, no heater in the winters, this she wouldn't have told if she hadn't felt hot and cold. She was given one dirty, rugged blanket which did nothing to provide her warmth. She wore same clothes every day, for her basic needs she was given things, she didn't know how come he was so generous.
The warm blanket she had now on her was white, and soft in texture, like the one made up of a rabbit skin, exactly. She brought it close up to her chin feeling the warmth of it as she felt chills running up her spine.
"Khushi, are you cold?" Arnav asked concerned.
He thought he didn't listen her. He saw her looking at the door as she was afraid a monster will come through it and kill her, or to the least warn her, if she ever tried to run away from him she would face the worst, or a physical abuse. She could feel his slaps in her face whenever she tried to back talk him. Her hand flew to her cheek.
She cringed as she imagined his bark of laughter in her head. His teeth, sharp dirty teeth, one tooth of his was either missing or black.
Her breathing was heavy.
"Khushi!" Arnav said in an utter concern. He was once again unheard.
Khushi was in complete control of the monster. Even though she was not in his cage anymore. She was so used to it.
Arnav was afraid to touch her now, afraid because he had no idea where she might be feeling the pain due to wounds that she was given for all these years.
To be on the safe side, he softly held her by her shoulder. "Khushi, look at me," he demanded. She did look at him, but her mind wasn't processing. She was looking at him for sure, but her mind seemed to tell her he was invisible to her.
What exactly she was seeing was monster. Live in front of her.
Laughing...
Looking at her with his wicked eyes...
She could feel his smirk after his mask...
Oh no, his red eyes...fury in anger.
She shouted, and wanted to be free of his hold.
"Khushi, it's me!" he said. "Khushi, just look at me!" Arnav yelled.
Khushi gasped as she was shook hard.
Khushi came out of her trance, and looked at Arnav, he wasn't a monster. She looked around she was still in the room that Arnav had given her.
She held her head in her hands and wailed until her sobs wrecked her. Every time Arnav said something or she thought of the monsters tortures, fresh new waves of sobs engulfed her.
"Khushi, please listen me!" he pleaded. "Please don't cry!"
"I am sorry!" she apologized as she tried to compose herself.
"No, Khushi, you don't have to be sorry!"
He came close to her. She wanted to hug him, but no she wasn't going to give herself this advantage and feel desperate.
He just didn't belong to her. She didn't know why she was thinking this way. In childhood she would simply hug him whenever she felt like. Even though he didn't like it.
"Arnav, I am fine!" she said.
Arnav didn't say anything and hugged her. Khushi was surprised, but as soon as she felt his body against her she forgot about everything and hugged him back. He rubbed her back softly, it was a relief to her bruises on her back. She cried endlessly against his shoulder, her tears wet his shirt, he didn't mind except for the fact her tears were priceless. But she needed to get of the ones that were toxic to her, he admitted.
He waited, he kept his protective arms around her, until her sobs started to fade as they stopped he found she was asleep. He moved her hair at her back to the front, so that he could lay her on the bed, but only to find her white smooth skin brutally marked with whip scars.
His jaws tightened and his hand clustered into a fist. His jaws relaxed, his fist uncollapsed as he thought he had this injured soul in his hand. He laid her gently on to her side meekly. Pain danced in his eyes.
"I will be back, Khushi!" he said in a low, soft tone.
***
"Aman!" he shouted as soon he was out of Khushi's room. Thank the Lord he had made the rooms of his this house soundproof and truly it helped it today. Because the intensity in his voice kept a force to shatter the walls.
As soon as Aman heard his boss's anger filled calls he ran up to him alerting the bodyguards to come along him as he knew the very purpose of his calls.
"Yes, sir!" Aman said.
"Aman, I want all the bodyguards, to find this monster that I told you about," he said.
"Yes, sir," Aman said. "But sir, as Princess has described this man, we can't really tell how this man looks like."
"What did I tell you?" Arnav shouted. "He has a monster tattoo on his arm and face. If he is trying to cover it, it means he is the one. His height is around 5' 8". Age? He must be around our age. May be a few year older, 29-30. As far as I remember he was 3-4 year older than me. And he is the son of the man who was held captive by Khushi's dad!"
"Sir, that's a great help. I am sorry for forgetting these major details. I have already sent half of the men and alarmed the securities around the border and the regional police is out working day and night. I will call more from outside if needed. Sir, who ever this man is, won't be able to leave this place. If he had left already, he wouldn't have gone much far and will be caught."
"Do whatever, I want this man as soon as possible in the jail, in front of my eyes. And ask all these people to not to show me their faces until they are done with their duty."
"Yes sir!"
"Also, make sure there is an enough security here!"
"Yes, sir!" Aman said and left.
***
Arnav went back to Khushi as soon as he was done giving orders. As he has found Khushi, his number one task was finished, now the second one came down to be not so hard. He had found Khushi, he had found his strength. That monster would be tracked down he was confident somehow he will come to get Khushi, and he would be a fool jumping in a fire knowing the consequences.
As he slowly opened the door, Khushi shivered a bit, he cursed the door as it made a sound. He had to make sure he got it fixed as soon as possible. But harm was done, Khushi had opened her eyes. She felt bit out of place, or as she still was assuring herself that she was safe. And finding Arnav in front of her eyes always kept her soul in place.
"I fell asleep once again," she said.
"It's alright!" he said. "But I am sorry I disturbed your sleep."
"It's good, I didn't want to sleep for this long to prevent jet lag."
"Hmm...So, what do you want to do?" he asked as he settled down on the bed beside her. She had to move a bit. She winced as her back hurt. Arnav without saying anything helped her.
"Thank you," she muttered as she managed to put a little smile on her face.
"Khushi, I will get Maria to apply an ailment on your back!" he said.
"How do you know?" she was going to ask but as she remembered her back was see through night gown. "I am really fine, Arnav!" she said instead.
"Alright, if you have told enough lies can you please get up and eat something, because I am starving, I am sure you too, and you know that we have promised each other when ever we will be together we will eat together."
"I seriously don't feel like eating, Arnav. It's 8:30 am."
"Oh thank you. Yes, please get up. Maria has set table for us!"
Khushi smiled. "Alright!" she said as she gave up and was up from the bed. "What are you doing?" he scolded her.
"You asked me to get up!" she said weakly.
"What am I for?" he said and picked her up. And he assured he was touching her fresh scars.
"Arnav!"
"Sshh!"
"No, I am not going to protest but ask you, why don't you smile?"
"Smile, I am smiling now, see!" he said but didn't make any effort to smile. Khushi giggled lightly at this.
"This is not called smiling, Arnav," she just had said when she actually saw a little smile on his face that was literally because she giggled.
"Now, that's what I call a smile!" she said, but she felt her heart doing another flip, seeing him looking at her. She could feel many eyes on them as they made their way to the dinning room.
Maria smiled looking at both of them. Whereas Khushi was surprised, she was blushing.
"Good morning, princess!" Khushi was wished by Maria.
"Arnav, dinning room has come!" she said.
Maria pulled chair for Khushi.
"Huh, yes, sorry!" he said quickly. And Khushi immediately answered to Maria to brush off the waves off awkwardness.
"Master, there is a good news."
"What is it, are you pregnant?" Arnav said as he made sure Khushi was sitting comfortable in her seat.
"Good joke!" Maria said as she broke into laughter. Khushi joined her.
"I wish it was the case, but Prince ASR, I already have six daughters!"
"Lucky you!" he said. Khushi loved his statement.
"So you think having daughters is lucky?" Khushi asked, suddenly surprised as she was discussing children.
"Of course!" he said amusingly. "If girls are like you, I won't mind having daughters," he said. "Agree, Maria?"
"Absolutely, Master!"
"Yes, sorry to divert the topic, so, what's the good news?"
"Princess Lavanya will be here with your sister Anjali today!"
"Lavanya!" Khushi repeated in her mind as this name immediately grabbed her attention.
This name she had heard this name before. This time she didn't have to think. Because Lavanya was the one who would come to her palace as she lived in Tasania, a kingdom close to Arnav's palace. Although, Arnav was always Khushi's best friend, and spent almost every single second with her whenever they were together. But whenever Lavanya, would come with her parents to the Palace, Khushi would feel Arnav giving more attention to her, yes even it meant five minutes, the time that they both took to introduce each other to themselves.
Now she was afraid that may be Lavanya was the one whom he was talking about. They had lot of time to spend time with each other, didn't they? As she was away? Oh how much she would like to hear, no, to her question.
"Hmm!" His answer to her was a simple mutter.
"Arnav, who is Lavanya?" Khushi asked despite of knowing it.
"She was our friend, remember, princess Lavanya."
"Oh the one who lived close to your palace?" She felt guilty of lying.
"Yes, I had invited her for the gathering as she had been very close to us!"
"She was never close to me!" she wanted to say. Her urge to eat food was completely gone.
"You will be really happy to see you!" he said.
Khushi felt he was too happy as she was coming, with that her fear grew, Lavanya might be the one who was his newly found love.
"I am happy for you!" she said.
Arnav was confused for a while, "You mean happy for us? I am glad!" he suddenly said.
"Hmm!" she whispered.
Edited by NidhiAS.Raizada - 10 years ago
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